as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
a British mystery writer who's an undisputed dab hand at building suspense
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Recent Examples of dab hand
The actor and director remains a dab hand at occasion dressing.
—
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2025
All of which curious George, a dab hand at psychological manipulation, coaxes along with the gentlest of nudges.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
Van Norden, a dab hand with Shakespeare, is a natural for Shaw.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Zach is a dab hand at herbal knockout potions and the occasional amateur amputation, and there’s a scene featuring the latter in which Wheatley indulges his twin tastes for deadpan comedy and head-on gross-outs to the extreme.
—BostonGlobe.com, 14 Apr. 2021
In addition to the outfits of the characters in her famous self-portraits, American artist Cindy Sherman is also a dab hand at finds for herself.
—Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2025
All of which curious George, a dab hand at psychological manipulation, coaxes along with the gentlest of nudges.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
Van Norden, a dab hand with Shakespeare, is a natural for Shaw.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Zach is a dab hand at herbal knockout potions and the occasional amateur amputation, and there’s a scene featuring the latter in which Wheatley indulges his twin tastes for deadpan comedy and head-on gross-outs to the extreme.
—BostonGlobe.com, 14 Apr. 2021
In addition to the outfits of the characters in her famous self-portraits, American artist Cindy Sherman is also a dab hand at finds for herself.
—Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab hand
Noun
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But experts remain skeptical about Martínez’s theory of a burial connected to Taposiris Magna.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
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Since chimps are more like humans than cats or dogs, a unique blend of human and veterinary medicine was necessary to find the right surgical approach, experts said.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Bettany played English poet and writer Geoffrey Chaucer in the medieval action-comedy, which starred Ledger as William Thatcher, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, who forges a new identity for himself as a knight when his master dies.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Sep. 2025
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The show, starring Ricardo Gómez and Óscar Jaenada, explores the friendship between a shy young man preparing for the application tests for public office while working as a part-time taxi driver and a master bullfighter.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Eisgruber, who is a scholar of constitutional law, believes that Sullivan is the cornerstone of American free-speech law.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
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And in that present, Fugazi’s drummer, a scholar of caste, and a border reporter are no longer distant figures.—
Javier Garcia del Moral
September 26,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
An effective trustee is skilled in conflict resolution and adept at maintaining open communication while prioritizing the trust’s objectives.—
Royce Ramey,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Slot shares this staple of Tottenham counterpart Ange Postecoglou’s attacking principles, with Porro adept at tucking inside to disrupt the opposition shape.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Production began on the series in July, and HBO celebrated with the first picture of Dominic McLaughlin, who has inherited the role from Daniel Radcliffe, in costume as the titular wizard.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
23 Sep. 2025
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Daily Mail photographers captured pictures this week showing Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley running into a wizard while on break from his job as the director of Grunnings, a company that makes drills.—
Evan Bell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Indian artist Subodh Gupta built a yurta from enamel pots and plates crafted by master ceramist Baxtiyor Nazirov.—
Dada Jovanovic,
ABC News,
28 Sep. 2025
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Though the area’s artist warehouses and businesses had to close, like the old-school Irish pub Maguire’s Hill 16, Kennedy said no residents were displaced by the project.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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His five collections and dozens of uncollected short stories also show a virtuoso at work and play.—
Jane Ciabattari
September 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
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Fast forward 20 years — and travel a couple hundred miles northeast — and readers meet Lottie Thomas, a 16-year-old piano virtuoso in New York with a lot on her mind.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Closing night film, psychological thriller Guru, stars Pierre Niney as a charismatic and manipulative self-help guru, with the cast also featuring Marion Barbeau, Anthony Bajon and Holt McCallany.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
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As Klopp goes all big picture, more leadership guru than tactics guru, his world is becoming broader.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dab hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab%20hand. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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